The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1887-07-28
TAX REDUCTIO N.
VIEWS OF HON. SAMUEL j. RAN
DALI.
Favors q Repeal of the Internal Reve-
nue., but Would be Willing to a Pro-
per Tariff Revision-Taxation Must
hn

nue., Dut w OulQ De WliilnS 20 d Tro-
per Tariff Revision-Taxation Must
be Reduced.
| From the Missouri Republican.
PAoL1, Pa, July 11.-Chas. w.
Knapp, Esq, Washington Bureau,
Missouri Republican Dear Sir-I
am in receipt of your letter, and as
explained in a previous Interview
when you called upon me, | under
stand your object to be to ask an ex-
preston of my opinion as to the prob
ability of legislation this winter to re-
duce taxation. Your chief object,
you state, is to develop the possibility
of uniting the Democrats of the House
upon measure having an unmistak-
able party stamp. You then subjoin
suggestions which you state have al
ready been submitted to Democratic
members of the Fiftieth Congress in
similar letters of inquiry. You in
quire:
81. Is there practical basis of
compromise through which she Demo-
Gratis of the House can unite p
There is such basis, and has been
all along, which might have been
adopted for the creation OF fair and
Just system of revision of our present
tariff and internal revenue taxation.
But nothing can be done in the future
as nothing was done in the past, if the
House is organized as heretofore, de-
liberately, it would seem, ON the
theory that the dictum of a few So
called leaders-not without the sus-
picion of representing other interests
must be taken without question and
accepted in every point and as an al
tentative, if it be rejected, that then
nothing shall be permitted to be done.
There must be disposition shown to
act fairly all around, and that dispo-
sition can never exist when we are
told by one of these self constituted
leaders: "Let us take off one-fifth
now. IF that does not reduce the
revenue, we can take off more. Some
time We will cut to the quick and
draw blood. Iftwenty per cent will
not reduce the revenue, perhaps fifty
will" / do not entertain any feeling
of vengeance against the producers OF
this country because they are enjoy
ing season of general prosperity. l
prefer their welfare to their distress,
their success to their ruin.
The revenue is too great, and a re-
duction of the current surplus is nee
essary. Some think this SO to an ex-
tent about equal to the amount col
lected under our internal revenue
law. If that amount is too much, it
would compel closer approach to
the revenue only" line, as demanded
by certain class of Democrats. In
this light why not abolish the intern
al revenue system? Excise taxes are
"war taxes" They have been so re
garded at all times, and from their
inquistorial and arbitrary character
they have been esteemed always as
dangerous to the peace and comfort
and civil rights of our people. 1t is
true that they are quickly collected
and in times of war have been resort
ed to with great advantage. It has
been the unvarying precedent of Dem
ocratic administrations, under like
circumstances, to abolish the internal
revenue taxes just so soon as the ne
cessities of war had rendered them un.
necessary. The tax upon tobacco
which the agricultural interests
throughout the country have clamor
ed against for years, would have been
repealed at the last session of Con
gress if the Representatives of the peo
pie in the House of Representatives
had been allowed to vote thereon
for it is well understood the Senate
would have concured in snch repeal
This was denied by an assumption oi
power for which there was and is nc
constitutional authority. Think of it
The whole number of the represen
tatives of the people of the United
States deprived of the right of reliev.
ing their constituents from the impo
sition of unneeded taxation. Such 3
procedure will not occur soon again
In reply to your second question
"Would an unequal cut of interna
] and tariff taxes afford such basis? p
answer III the negative.
The reduction in the tariff rate o
duties should be matter of separat
and distinct consideration, and b,
done with due regard to the condi
tions existing as to wages in this eoun
try as compared with wages paid fo
like labor in producing such article.
as are imported, which would, whel
here, come in competition with lik.
articles produced in the United States
| am ready on this basis, to enter i
good faith upon such basis of reduct
ion-that is, wherever such can b
| done without danger to our Ameri
can producers. This proposition is il
substance the utteranee of the conven
tion OF the Democracy at Chicago i
1884, when and where the free trader
were utterly routed and made comics
sion at that time of their complet
discontinue. We must distinctly aG
here to the spirit and letter of ou
platform on which Mr.. Cleyelan
was elected
: You ask third g Assuming this ae
ceptable, is it. feasable to carry the e
ement of compromise into Che selec
ion of the tariff schedule ?' an
fourth Are there concessions of an
other kind the majority of the part
can offer without sacrifice of primo
pie p
4 Our people have grown accustome
to raisiug revenue BY duties on in
ports. It is collected without fric1
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